given

American  

[giv-uhn] / ˈgɪv ən /

verb

1. past participle of give.

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adjective

1. stated, fixed, or specified.

   at a given time.

2. addicted or disposed (often followed byto ).

   given to making snide remarks.

3. bestowed as a gift; conferred.

4. assigned as a basis of calculation, reasoning, etc..

   Given A and B, C follows.

5. Mathematics. known or independently determined.

   a given magnitude.

6. (on official documents) executed and delivered as of the date shown.

noun

1. an established fact, condition, factor, etc.

given British  

/ ˈɡɪvən /

verb

1. the past participle of give

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adjective

1. tending (to); inclined or addicted (to)

2. specific or previously stated

3. assumed as a premise

4. maths known or determined independently

   a given volume

5. (on official documents) issued or executed, as on a stated date

noun

1. an assumed fact

2. philosophy the supposed raw data of experience See also sense datum

Other Word Forms

• self-given
  adjective
• ungiven
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of given

First recorded in 1350–1400, for the adjective

Explanation

A given is some detail or fact that is known to be true. Your mother might say, "It's a given that I'll always love you, no matter how annoying you are." Something's a given if it's an established situation that you're sure of. It's a given that a first class airplane ticket will cost a lot more than a seat in coach, and it's also a given that the earth orbits the sun. It can also be an adjective: "After considering the given facts, mark an answer on the multiple-choice test." Given comes from the verb give, which has an Old English root of giefan, "to bestow, allot, or commit."

Example Sentences

By then, Piastri had already caused himself further trouble because of a clumsy collision with Williams' Alex Albon, for which he was given a 10-second penalty.

From BBC • May 24, 2026

Fuel prices and shipping costs could take longer to decline than oil prices given depleted inventories and damage to production facilities, keeping an energy premium embedded in the global economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

I do like, however, that a 10-minute buildout has reduced how many bags of pasta I have open at any given time.

From Slate • May 24, 2026

Expectations for “The Mandalorian” were more muted given its lower budget and roots on the small screen.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 24, 2026

At first, Clare had given little thought to the budding fungus.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman